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National Day is an occasion to relive the glory of our past and remember the life of Sheikh Zayed

This is an occasion to walk with our wise leadership in the footsteps of the UAE's Founding Father, writes Jamal Al Suwaidi

The UAE's leaders have laid the foundations for a strong future. The portraits of the UAE's founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, can be seen on DIFC's Gate Building / Reem Mohammed/The National)

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On the occasion of the 46th National Day of the UAE, I would like to extend my most heartfelt wishes and congratulate the wise leadership and people of the United Arab Emirates. The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR) is always keen on being at the forefront when it comes to celebrating this great day, in gratitude and appreciation of the achievements by Sheikh Khalifa, the President of the UAE, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. We owe much to them, as well as the members of the Federal Supreme Council, the rulers of the emirates and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

Sheikh Khalifa stated that National Day represents an opportunity to show feelings of loyalty, solidarity and closeness between the leadership and the people, something we feel every day. It is an occasion to relive the glory of our history and remember the life of the founder and builder of the UAE, the late Sheikh Zayed, and the era of modern civilisation he brought with him. He laid the first cornerstones for a notable, solid foundation. This is an occasion to walk with our wise leadership in the footsteps of the Founding Father.

Furthermore, the day is an occasion to commemorate the founders of the union and express our pride in them. The UAE is a beacon of their achievements. It is the good fortune of the UAE to have leaders with a wise vision stemming from deep-rooted beliefs in the importance of the role of all of society in its development. The most important factor is the deep confidence of our leadership in their people, values, customs, loyalty and ability to attain the best of achievements in all fields.

Sheikh Khalifa also stressed that the celebrations represent an occasion to exert concerted efforts in pursuing the leadership's directives by improving the quality of performance, qualitative excellence and creativity in work. It is an opportunity to double production and renew loyalty to the leadership and homeland. That, in turn, accelerates the process of sustainable development that the UAE has recently witnessed in the political, economic and social sectors. We should always look forward to being at the forefront among the world's nations. We have succeeded in achieving that goal and strive to preserve that achievement, endeavouring to reach higher and better goals.

We also use this time to honour our martyrs, who throughout history have sacrificed themselves in the defence of their homeland. They include our brave soldiers, who fell in Yemen to restore the legitimacy of the government. They sacrificed their lives so that the UAE’s banner could remain high. The UAE President said the most important lesson we have learned from the past is that our unity is the source of our strength and all that we have accomplished in terms of progress in an instable region is traced back to the fact that we are one nation united around a strong leadership. May our dear country continue to enjoy eternal peace, stability and progress.

Dr Jamal Al Suwaidi is the director general of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research